There’s no doubt that we often can feel the climate guilt, the grief and anxiety as we fear for the climate’s future. However, if we want to progress and make a real individual impact, we need to raise our vibrations so that we can come up with bright solutions!
The more you learn about climate change and its potential long-term effects, the more hopeless things may seem. You might feel guilty, or that you could do more to help. How do you balance these feelings with the hope required to make positive changes? Here’s how you can balance climate guilt with optimism.
1. Hope vs. Optimism
First, you should understand that hope and optimism are not always the same thing.
Hope can be a purely faith-based feeling, especially in the context of pressing global issues such as climate change.
On the other hand, optimism refers to a healthy expectation for the future based on evidence and experience. You need hope to defeat overwhelming odds, but you need optimism to know how to beat the odds.
Too much hope can lead to denial and toxic positivity, which impede the work of climate activists. They can’t afford to deny the gravity of the situation or paint the climate crisis in a more favorable light. The realities of climate change leave no room for blind hope.
However, optimism has its place. We’ve recognized that something needs to change before it’s too late. We’re taking steady measures to limit our carbon footprint and live more sustainably. World leaders are finally taking climate change seriously. Despite the damage that has already occurred, you have a lot to celebrate in this world!
2. Realism vs. Pessimism
It’s easy to feel discouraged when you hear about the effects of man-made climate change, but pessimism won’t help anyone. Pessimism leads to despair, and despair leads to acquiescence. If you allow your negative feelings to spiral out of control, you won’t feel motivated to care about the issue anymore.
You might have your own thoughts about the future, but not everyone feels the same way. In the moments when you feel guilty or pessimistic about climate change, remember that millions of people around the world are taking action against it. If they still see the light in the darkness, so can you.
Instead of indulging in your guilt, adopt a healthy sense of realism. Things will look bleak at times, but if you want anthropogenic climate change to disappear, you must continue to fight. Keep a level head and understand that your negative feelings are temporary, but your actions will make a lasting impact.
3. Focus on What’s in Front of You
The best thing you can do to manage your guilt is to focus on the task in front of you. If you look at the bigger picture all the time, you will quickly feel overwhelmed, and your habits will fall apart. Instead, look at the things you can personally control:
- Eating the right foods
- Buying sustainable products
- Disposing of waste properly
- Limiting emissions from your home and vehicle
Get your own house in order so you can navigate the outside world with more confidence and help raise more awareness for the issues at hand.
Designing sustainable cities of the future for communities to thriveÂ
4. Knowledge Comes With a Price
Many climate activists struggle with anxiety and depression as a result of their work. The more they learn about humanity’s impact on the environment, the more stressed they feel. If you want to expand your role in the fight against climate change, you must be prepared to face those feelings.
You’re going to read troubling statistics. You’re going to encounter people who don’t care about climate change. You might even find out that some of your personal habits aren’t as eco-friendly as you believed. With each new experience, you might feel more pressure weighing on your shoulders. Knowledge comes with a heavy price, but that shouldn’t affect your optimism. If anything, you should feel more confident in yourself with more knowledge at your disposal.
Take Things Slow
Just as humankind’s impact on the environment has slowly accumulated over the centuries, our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint will also take many years. Expecting too much too quickly will make you feel riddled with guilt. The fight against climate change will take time. Blind hope and stress-induced pessimism won’t get you anywhere.
You should instead feel optimistic about humanity’s growing efforts, while staying grounded in reality and understanding that daily vigilance is required. Gather knowledge so you can improve those daily actions, and stay focused on what you can control.
